Cabinet for dispensing sheet material



Oct. 6, 1942. F. G. STEINER ETAL CABINET FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIALoriginal Filed March 25. 1940 3 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 6, 1942. F. G.sTElNER ET AL CABINET FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIAL ignal Filed March25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1942. F. c. sTElNl-:R ETAL CABINET FORDISPENSVING SHEET MATERIAL Smets-sheet 3 original Filed March'25, 1940en/zelf Patente-d Oct. 6, 1942 f CABINET FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIALFrank G. Steiner, Miami Beach, Fla., and Rudolph G. Birr, Lombard, Ill.,assignors to Steiner Sales Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporationof Utah Original application March 25, 1940, Serial No. 325,686. Dividedand this application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,596

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing cabinetconstructions, and has among its objects to simplify and cheapen theconstruction, make it easier to operate, make it more rugged, andfacilitate assembly and disassembly of the parts.

This application is divisional of our copending application Serial No.325,686, filed March 25, 1940, which has matured into Patent No. 2,273,-384, February 17, 1942, and the invention is directed particularly tomeans by which preliminary feeding operation `of the paper aftertear-off is obtained, and to this means in relation to a stop mechanismor to a time-stop mechanism controlling and controlled by a measuringroll or equivalent dispensing control means. The preliminary movement ofthis feeding mechanism by means of a single abutment which projects atthe front of the casing is also a feature. This invention also concernsdetails of the assembly structure of a part of a stop mechanism whichthe roll controls and is controlled by.

Features of the invention include the use of an element havingperipheral abutments, each as means by which force is applied to feedthe paper and operate a stop mechanism; the use of a visibly projectedabutment as a means more likely to attract attention and suggest orinvite the proper operation of the mechanism by a user Who for the firsttime approaches to operate the cabinet; the use of means that avoidsabrasion of the operators finger; the utilization of one end of astop-retracting spring as a cotter pin to hold one end of astop-connecting link in pivotal relation with the stop; and all detailsof construction relating to those features, along with all ideas ofmeans which are broader than the details shown.

In the type of paper dispensing cabinet shown herein it has heretoforebeen the practice to use a circular disk as means for preliminarilyfeeding the paper to an accessible position, and to have a small arcuateedge portion or periphery of this disk project through a slot in thefront of the casing to be engaged by the operators thumb or finger andmoved to obtain this preliminary feeding. Some of these disks have beenmoved up- Wardly and some have been moved downwardly. It has been foundthat persons who for the rst time use the cabinet and observe this smallarcuate projection fail to understand what it is for, or misuse it. Itis therefore one of the objects of this invention to avoid thismisunderstanding and misuse by providing a projection upon which thethumb can be prelimnarily laid, and Which because of its projectingposition is naturally pressed downwardly to feed the paper. Moreover, bythe use of a projection, rather than the circular edge of a disk,greater force can be applied without injuring the nger of the operator.

The present disclosure is in a cabinet particularly designed fordispensing paper, but it Will be understood that the dialing device canbe used in any suitable dispensing apparatus having a stop mechanism,not necessarily a time-stop mechanism. This construction is hereinapplied in an art in which there is increasingly acute demand forstructural simplification and efficiency of operation, combined withease of assembly, ease of servicing, cheapness and ruggedness.Therefore, the details of construction have assumed an important placein the development of this art, particularly the art of paperdispensing.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear in thedescription of the drawings forming a part of this specification, and insaid drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the cabinet with partsbroken away to show the interior construction;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a verticaltransverse section taken substantially on line3--3 of Figure 1 and illustrating the stop mechanism in release positionand showing the means for holding the link in place;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4-4 of Figure 1illustrating the structure and relations of the feed roll operatingwheel;

Figure 5 is a horizontal, detailed section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1further illustrating the feeding wheel and its projecting relations withthe slot of the cover and with the front face of the cover or door; and

` Figure 6 is a detailed vertical section on line 6 6 of Figure 3showing the utilization of the retracting spring for the stop as meansto prevent disengagement of the link from its pivoting element.

In the drawings, the numeral I indicates the back of the cabinet and thenumeral 2 the bottom thereof. This inner section, therefore, providesonly the back and the bottom of the cabinet and the back and bottom areformed in one piece. The forward portion of the bottom of the cabinet isbent upwardly as at 6 so that its upper edge is arranged close to a feedor measuring roll 'l suitably journaled on upright plates by a shaft ortrunnions 8.

The feed roll is grooved at 9, and the upwardly, outwardly slantedportion 6 has suitable fingers I which cooperate with the grooves toprevent the paper following the roll and to direct the paper, in thisinstance downwardly. The upper edge of the back has an inturned,forwardly directed reenforcing flange I5. Below this flange is arrangeda keeper I9 with which a hook I8 of a lock generally indicated atengages to se- 'cure the cover, later to be described, in closedposition. The locking mechanism is of well known construction and when akey is properly inserted and moved the hook may be swung to releaseposition to allow the front cover to be swung downwardly below thebottom 2 to act as a shelf for the supply roll during servicing.

The cover or outer section forms a top 2l, front 22 and sides 23 and 24of the cabinet, and the inner and outer sections cooperate when theouter section is closed to form a substantially rectangular compartmentor box. The cover is hinged or pivoted to the inner section so that thecover can swing down below the cabinet in a position to have its top 2lact as a shelf.

The dispensing mechanism is mounted on spaced vertical platesrespectively indicated by numerals 25 and 26, each plate having threeoutturned flanges respectively indicated at 21, 28 and 34. The flanges21 and 28 are respectively attached as by spot welding or riveting tothe back and bottom of the cabinet. The bottom iiange 28 of each plateis extended outwardly as shown in Figure 1 and has an upturnedbearingforming portion 29 having a bearing opening 3B.

Each of the sides 23, 24 of the cover has pins, these pins beingrespectively indicated at 32, 33, which pins engage in the bearingopening 30. The pins are suitably secured in the cover as by riveting.In assembly the sides of the outer cover are rst sprung outwardly, thenthe pins are registered with the openings 35, and then the sides arereleased, whereafter the resiliency of the sides holds the pins inpivotal relation in the bearing opening. This permits easy assembly orremoval of the outer cover for repair or for repainting. Inasmuch as thecover provides the four visible sides of the cabinet, simple repaintingof the cover, so far as appearance is concerned, is the equivalent ofsupplying a new cabinet. The making of the bearing-forming elements inone piece bent up from the stifening anges of the reenforcing plates ofthe two-element inner cabinet section makes for simplicity inmanufacture and for strength.

The top flanges of the plates 25 and 26 are cross-connected by a barheld by suitable screws 36. It will, of course, be understood that thecross-connected plates with their flanges spot welded form means forstiffening the front and back, providing a very rugged base upon whichthe outer cover is pivoted. This stiffening is particularly desirablebecause of the strains through the pivoting means when the cover is openand loaded with a supply roll preparatory to servicing.

The cabinet in this case has two feed rolls respectively indicated at 1and 40, the roll 40 being held yieldably against the roll 'l but beingmovable away therefrom. This roll 40 is pressed toward the roll 1 bymeans of springs 4l acting on trunnions of the roll 40 which projectthrough slots 42 in the upright plates.

The slot 42 of plate 26 (see Figures 2' and 4) has as an extension adiagonal slot 43. This slot 43 allows assembly or removal of the roll40. In assembly one trunnion of the roll is rst inserted in the slot orbearing 42 of the plate 25 and then the opposite trunnion of the roll41'! is inserted in the slot 43, and then moved downwardly and forwardlyto the position of the roll 40 in operative relation with roll l, afterwhich the spring 4I is applied as shown in Figure 4.

An important feature of this invention is the means for operating theroll 'I or its equivalent, to preliminarily feed the paper and forsetting a stop mechanism or a time-stop mechanism. The object is toprovide a positive means for turning the roll to start the paper tobring the paper to a position whereat it can be grasped by hand andpulled. This operation is not only necessary when servicing the cabinet,but is an operation sometimes necessary by users of the cabinet.V

One of the objects is to provide a device which can beoperated withoutabrading the fingers and this is particularly desirable for men who haveto service a large number of cabinets and therefore have to use theirthumbs repeatedly for initially moving the paper to the positionmentioned. Moreover, in the case of a user it is an object to provide aform of operating element which will be prominent, and by its appearancesuggest its use, or particularly will suggest its direction ofoperation, which is downwardly.

When the element projects in the manner to be described, the usernaturally will lay the thumb upon it and pull downwardly. It has beenfound that this is not true for a member for the same purpose in which aportion projects and presents a smooth arcuate surface against which thethumb or finger is placed. In these cases either the user does not knowwhat to do with the cabinet because there is nothing to suggest what todo, as in the case of the abutment projection,

or sometimes moves the disk in the wrong direction, for exampleupwardly, and believes the cabinet is inoperative because he does notget results.

It will be understood that heretofore when a small circular edgedportion of a disk is projected through the slot in the front of acabinet the amount of friction by the finger tips or thumb tip and thethin edge of the disk was such as to result in painful abrasions,particularly for service men. The load required to be moved by theabutment, or heretofore by the frictional action, is considerable. Itwill be noted that it is necessary to repeatedly move the operatingelement by step-by-step finger action in the old practice against thethin edge of a disk. 'Ihis objection to the circular thumbing surfacecould be partly overcome by thickening the disk, but in that case diestamping was made more expensive. By using an abutment finger the diskcan be a thin disk, the abutments can be rounded, and painful abrasionof the skin of the fingers is avoided.

The disk is indicated at 4S and the abutments are indicated at 5D. Theseabutments are in the nature of radial fingers or arms of a wheel, andare so arranged in relation to the slot 45 in the front wall 2| of theouter cover that only one nger projects at the same time and so that theone which does project normally lies in either the upper or the middlepart of the slot whereby the operator can lay a nger upon it and pressdownwardly. IOrdinarily it points slightly upwardly and outwardly. Thisscheme provides what may be called a disappearing lever or a successionof appearing and disappearing levers. As the operator moves the leverfinger downwardly it eventually disappears through the slot and leavesthe operators finger in sliding relation with the outer surface of thefront wall. At the moment of the disappearance of one lever fingeranother lever linger appears in the upper part of the slot. Goodleverage is obtainable and the single projecting element invitesattention and suggests the manner of operation.

Referring to Figure it is noted that the abutment wheel is attached tothe shaft 8 of the roll 1, which shaft projects through the plate 26,the plate acting as a bearing. The roll is thus at the inner side of theplate 26 and the wheel at the outer side thereof.

Referring to Figure 4. The dotted lines represent the preferred positionof an abutment at the end of an operation which corresponds to the endof the setting operation of the stop and the timer. In this case theabutment or arm is disposed at about the vertical middle of the slot andprojects quite prominently and provides a substantially long lever uponwhich the thumb or finger can be initially laid preparatory to theapplication of downward pressure.

Another structure, which is claimed in a copending application, relatesto means for facilitating the grasping of the paper by causing 'it to beheld in spaced relation behind a tear-off knife 60, which knife in thisinstance is at the bottom of the cabinet and projects outwardly at anangle of about 45 degrees. In this instance the edge is constituted bybending the lower edge of the front wall of the outer cover or casing.Another structure which is covered in a copending application is theprovision of openings in the knife by the particular means'herein shown,so that sheet material lying behind the knife can be clearly seenwithout unusual elort after the material has been torn olf and/or afterit has been Y retracted by means to be described. We believe it new toutilize letters of direction to provide in the aggregate a large area ofopening through which to View the paper back of the knife. These letterson the knife as words of direction are produced by stencilled cut-outs,that is, by stencilled lettering. The character of the letters or wordsor their number may be varied within the scope of the invention. Thestencilled lettering is indicated at 6 I, which numeral also indicatesthe stencilled openings. The user thus simultaneously sees thedirections and the paper and a large area of opening is provided so thatthe paper may be easily and clearly seen.

Another structure covered in a copending application which ispreferably, although not necessarily, used in combination with a knife,is an apron between which and the rolls the paper lies after havingpassed through the rolls in feeding direction or toward a position ofaccessibility. The shape of the apron and its relation to the rolls issuch that when feeding the paper by means of the wheel 46, jamming ofthe paper between this apron 'and the rolls eventually moves one of therolls to stop feeding action, and so conditions the paper that as aresult of again feeding, the paper automatically loosens itself or tendseven without feeding to expand= and move in the direction ofaccessibility.

The above is one function of the apron or an equivalent device inrelation'to the roll. A second function, which'the apron mayperformindependently of the first, is to automaticallyjbring the paper'to and hold it ina position spaced rearwardly of the knife. In thisembodimentthe paper is held in a substantiallyupright position.

The bottom of the apron is so related to the tearoff edge of the knifethat after tear-off the paper remains projecting below the edge of theapron so that it can be viewed through the stencilled cut-outs in theknife. The apron in this case is gravity-balanced to hold the paperproperly spaced and all that is necessary is for the user toreach behindthe knife after sighting the paper'through the openings provided by thestencilled words of direction.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2. The numeral 65 generally indicates theapron or other equivalent movable element. The apron acts to change thecross-section of the configuration of the delivery passage and thus actsto make permanent jamming impossible. This jamming occurs mostfrequently when someone maliciously tampers with the cabinet to try toput it out of commission, which in this day of labor troubles is not anunusual occurrence.

The apron is curved as at 66 and has its concave side facing the roll.In this embodiment, but not necessarily in all, there is meansconnecting the apron to swing about the axis of the movable roll as acenter, the means being such that the apron as shown in Figure 2 isgravitybalanced to hold the paper which has passed below it in asubstantially upright position spaced from the knife. Paper projectingbelow the knife can be drawn forwardly (also drawing the apronforwardly) and torn olf against the knife, as before stated.

It is noted that the middle part of the apron is straight and the lowerpart is curved inwardly as at 61 to provide an edge engagement with thepaper. The apron is pendently, swingingly attached by means of plates orarms 1l, although there is no intention to limit the invention to theparticular manner of mounting the plate, provided that the plate or itsequivalent is capable of cooperating with the rolls to form a downwardlyflaring or diverging throat, capable of automatically moving rearwardlyto space the paper after tear-olf.

Regarding jamming by a malicious tamperer. When the tamperer with hisfingers held in the throat operates the feed roll, the paper usuallybuilds up by a series of reverse folds to finally become forcibly packedbetween the fingers as the base, and the movable roll. Finallysuiiicient force is set up and the roll 40 is raised to stop feed. Whenthe tamperer having, he thinks, put the cabinet out of commission forfurther feeding, removes his fingers, the resiliently packed and foldedcondition of the paper causes it to automatically expand like anaccordion, moving the paper in direction of accessibility or so as to beeasily pullable to a position for tear-off or so as to loosensufliciently to be easily withdrawn by hand or fed by operation of theabutment 5U. In previous devices the throat was not downwardlyconvergent but was so formed that there could be no automatic releaseafter jamming.

When the paper can be jammed the cabinet is put out of commission untilthe door is opened by a service man and the paper torn off (thereforewasted) and the paper again threaded through and the cabinet closed bythe service man.

It will be understood that the tension 4l on the pressure roll 40 is sobalanced as to obtain proper feed under ordinary conditions, butnevertheless to properly react to the pressure produced by the jammingpaper to raisethe roll before a great deal of paper is wasted asa resultofjamming.

Another feature of the invention claimed herein is a detail of theconstruction of the stop mechanism, which is an improvement over thestop mechanism covered in another application. The present featureconsists in utilization of the spring which retracts the stop as meansfor releasably securing one end of the stop-operating link to the stop.This facilitates assembly and eliminates an extra part, which part iseasily lost and which requires special care to apply. It will beunderstood that the mechanism now to be described is operated throughmanipulation of the element 58 which also operates the roll, which inturn is controlled by and controls the mechanism now to be described.

The operation of the stop mechanisms in this class is well known. Thepresent mechanism is not only a stop mechanism but is a time-stopmechanism and it is of the vacuum-cup type. In Figure 3 the stopmechanism is shown in release position and is adapted to control and becontrolled by the measuring roll 1, in turn operated by an abutmentelement 50. This roll has a gear 80 on its shaft or trunnion whichmeshes with another spur gear 8| journaled on the plate 25. There is astop-slide indicated at-82 laterally guided by a three-point guidemeans, the guide elements of which are respectively indicated bynumerals 85, 86, 81. The slide can simply be lifted out from between theguide elements and is therefore very easy to assemble. The face ofgreatest area of the slide is opposed to and slides against the outerface of the plate 25 and the slide has an extension 89 which supportsone of the timing elements, that is, a vacuum cup 99. A bracket 9| hasan extension 92 which overlaps the slide or stop to form the sole meansto prevent its movement outwardly from the plate 25. Suitable fasteningdevices 93 releasably secure the bracket 9| as shown. Guide 85 isdetachably connected as shown, while the other two guides are formed bybeing struck outwardly from the metal of the plate 25. The bracket 9|supports a second vacuum cup 93.

When the cups are brought together they remain f.

vacuum-attached and immovable during the timing period. Timed release isobtained by admitting air between the cups, and the rate of admission isregulated by the screw 94.

A feature of this invention is the means by which the link 95 is held onthe pivoting projection 96 carried by the lower end of the slidestop 82.There is an opening in the link which ts over the projection 95 and thispivot projection 96 has an opening 91, and the hooked f end 98 of thestop-retracting spring is merely hooked through this opening. It is avery simple and easily made connection. The link has a slot |00 thereinand this is loosely traversed by a crank pin |0| on the gear 8 I.

Inasmuch as the general operation of the .device is well known, nodetail description is given, although it may be said that when the gearrotates, the crank pin |0| pulls the link downwardly, also pulling thestop 82 downwardly into the path of the stop arm |93, at which point thestops 82 are held by the vacuum cupsV until the annulment of the vacuumoccurs. Immediately upon such annulment the spring 99 pulls the stopagain to the open or release position shown.

A feature of the invention is to provide for -the connection of aretraction spring for the slidable stop such that the force applied bythe spring is applied directly to the slide, and at the same time have apart of the spring act as a means for holding a pivotal link againstaccidental release from the stop.

The advantages of the connection of the spring 99 to the extension 96 ofthe slide, rather than to the link 95, will be evident. Not only doesthe lower end of the spring 99 act to retain the upper end of the linkon the projection 96, but the spring acts directly on the slide and notdirectly on the link. Heretofore these springs have been attached to thelink so that the action of the spring increased the friction between thesides of the slot 98 of the link and the crank pin 99 during operation.Therefore, by attaching the spring as herein shown, a triple function isperformed of avoiding increase of friction in the manner mentioned,obtaining direct action of the spring on the stop-slide 96 and ofutilization of the spring to hold the link on its pivot. Decreasing thefriction decreases wear and decreases the load to be operated by theabutment disk.

We claim as our invention:

l. A dispensing cabinet having a feeding roll and having a front wallhaving a slot therein, a wheel having radial fingers, one only of whichprojects through the slot at the same time, said wheel being adapted torotate the roll.

2. A dispensing cabinet having a feeding roll and having a front coverhaving a slot therein, a wheel having fingers projecting through theslot, said element being adapted to rotate the roll, the relation of thefingers to the slot being such that only one of said fingers projects atone time, so that the operator can lay his finger on said projectingfinger and bear downwardly thereon to rotate the roll, whereby thefinger of the wheel finally disappears through the slot, whereafter theoperators finger may continue its downward movement while in frictionalengagement with the cover. v

3. In a dispensing cabinet for sheet material, feeding means controlledby and controlling a stop mechanism to set the timer as feeding occurs,said cabinet having a front wall having a slot therein, a wheel havingradial arms, one only of which projects through the slot at the sametime, and means by which the wheel when moved by its fingers operatesthe feeding means, and sets the time-stop mechanism.

4. A dispensing cabinet having a feeding roll controlling and controlledby a stop mechanism, a wheel adapted to operate the roll and havingperipheral radial abutments, saidv cabinet having a front wall having aslot through which an abutment projects, the abutments and the slotbeing so related that only one abutment projects at a pointsubstantially intermediately of the top and bottom of the slot and sothat firm pressure can be applied by an operators finger to the abutmentin downward direction.

5. A dispensing cabinet for sheet material, comprising a feedingmechanism, a-stop mech,- anism controlled by and controlling the feedingmechanism to limit feeding to a predetermined amount of sheet material,s aid cabinet having a front wall having a slot therein, a wheelhavingoperating arms and means by which the wheel controls the feeding means,said arms being adapted to successively project through said slot to aposition accessible to `the user, said feeding means stop mechanism andarms being so related that when `the stop mechanism assumes feedlimitingposition one of the arms assumes said accessible position. Y

6. A dispensing cabinet for sheet material, comprising a, feedingmechanism, a stop mechanism controlled by and controlling the feedingmechanism to limit feeding to a predetermined amount of sheet material,said cabinet having a front wall having a slot therein, a Wheel havingoperating arms and means by which the Wheel controls the feeding means,said arms being adapted to successively project through said slot to aposition accessible t0 the user, said feeding means stop mechanism andarms being so related that when the stop mechanism assumesYfeed-limiting position one of the arms assumes an accessible positionat a point substantially midway between the top and the bottom of theslot.

FRANK G. STEINER.

RUDOLPH G. BIRR.

